Leroy F. "Skip" Stewart Obituary (1932

Leroy F. "Skip" Stewart, 79, passed from this earth to the loving arms of his heavenly Father on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012 in Heritage Valley Beaver, following a brief illness and surrounded by his family. Born May 1, 1932 in West Mayfield, he was the son of the late Leroy M. and Margaret DeRuyter Stewart. He had a deep devotion to his family and his church and will be sorely missed by loving wife, his children and his grandchildren who were his most favorite people. He always looked forward to the weekends when they would visit with him. He was a very active member of the Chippewa Evangelical Free Church. He had previously been a member of the former Campbell Memorial United Presbyterian Church where he had been an elder and had taught Sunday school. He had also taught Sunday school and was a trustee of the Christian Assembly in New Brighton. He graduated from Geneva College with a B.S. degree in Education and had served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was the president of L. Stewart Homes, Inc., for over 55 years, the company that was founded by his father. He was an active member of the Beaver Falls Rotary Club and the advisory board of directors of the Beaver Falls Salvation Army. Skip was extremely proud of his service to the Pennsylvania Public Schools System. He began his service on the Blackhawk School Board for twenty-five years where he served as President for many of these years. Known as a model school board member, he also served as President of the Beaver County Vo-Tech, Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit, and the Beaver Valley Joint School Board. During these twenty-five years, he also served as the Pennsylvania Region II Director and the first, second, and third Vice-President of the Pennsylvania State Board. Ultimately, he served as President of P.S.B.A. in 1986. Furthermore, he served on the North East Region of the National School Board Association. Skip had a true passion for the betterment of the Pennsylvania public schools. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son Jeffrey Stewart and a brother Thomas Stewart. He is survived by the love of his life of 58 years, JoAnn Capo Stewart, three sons and two daughters-in-law, Mark Stewart and his fiancee Patricia Mittica, Thomas and Debra Stewart, Michael and Stacey Stewart, former daughter-in-law Lori Stewart, all of Chippewa Township, five grandson, Tom and Veronica Stewart, Dan and Beth Stewart, Joshua and Meghan Stewart, Cory and Leah Stewart, Jacob Stewart, two granddaughters, Amy and Kristan Stewart, one great-grandson, Elijah Stewart, a brother and sister-in-law, James and Moni Stewart, Florida, and a sister and brother-in-law, Carol and Arthur Mitchell, Mercer, PA. Friends will be received Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the Hill & Kunselman Funeral Home, www.hillandkunselman.com., 3801-4th Ave., College Hill, Beaver Falls. There will be an additional visitation on Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at 11 a.m. in the Chippewa Evangelical Free Church, 239 Braun Road, with his pastor, the Rev. Jeff McNicol officiating. Entombment will follow in Sylvania Hills Mausoleum, Daugherty Township. The Beaver County Special Unit will meet at the mausoleum on Monday at noon to conduct full military rites. Memorial contributions may be made, if desired, to the Jeff Stewart Memorial Scholarship Fund, in care of the Blackhawk Quarterback Club, attention Jay Campbell, 136 Maple Vue Drive, Beaver Falls, PA 15010. Please make the check out to the Blackhawk Quarterback Club and note in memo portion of the check that the funds are to be used for Jeff Stewart's Scholarship Fund.